New trends in commercially available and emerging technologies

Natural gas fired humidity control technologies: Adequate humidity control can greatly improve indoor air quality and comfort. In winter, the relative humidity of air in a typical commercial building is below that of the Sahara Desert. Gas humidifiers can provide much needed relief.

In high humidity summer conditions, air conditioners are sometimes unable to adequately control both temperature and humidity (due to the physical chemical properties of moist air mixtures). Gas desiccant dehumidification technology offers a solution by removing moisture from the air, saving electricity costs by decreasing the latent cooling load, and allowing temperature and humidity to be controlled independently.

Air quality monitoring system: Installing IAQ sensors throughout a building and linking to computerized HVAC control systems is a viable option. This type of system can provide continuous records of key IAQ parameters such as temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide and allow feedback to the HVAC controller to regulate indoor air quality.

Ultraviolet rays kill microbes: A new air purifying system kills micro-organisms such as molds, bacteria, yeasts, dust mites and viruses by exposing them to an ultra-violet lamp installed in the ductwork of forced air HVAC systems. When properly positioned in the ductwork, the lamp can also kill germs that breed in drain pans and air-conditioning coils.

Mold detection device: Mold related IAQ problems can now be easily detected with a new device that draws air through a petrie dish. Visual inspection of culture growth determines the presence and extent of harmful mold species.

Green Labeling Program for Indoor Products: Air Quality Sciences, an indoor air quality authority and testing laboratory has launched the world's first voluntary certified labeling program for environmentally preferred indoor products, called the GREENGUARD Registry. Listed certified products, such as carpet, paint, office equipment, furniture, will be routinely audited for compliance to requirements set forth by the U.S. EPA and other leading authorities.

Although efforts have been made to ensure this information is current and accurate, Union Gas makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness and disclaims liability.

Additional Resources

Union Gas Leading Edge Publication: The Need for Humidification Case Study: Natural Gas Humidification of Commercial Building Air Case Study: Gas Dehumidification in Arenas

IAQ professionals can be found in the yellow pages under Air Quality Services, Health & Safety, or Environmental Consultants. Yellow page listings are also available on the Internet at www.yellowpages.ca

Health Canada website www.hc-sc.gc.ca

U.S. EPA Publication - Building Air Quality, A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers (1991) www.epa.gov/iaq/largebldgs/baqtoc.html

U.S. EPA IAQ website www.epa.gov/iaq/

IAQ articles from the International Union of Operating Engineers website.
http://iaq.iuoe.org

A new computer program for multi-zone airflow and indoor air quality (IAQ) analysis developed by "National Institute for Standards and Technology’s" (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory can be downloaded at www.fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build03/art007.html

ASHRAE Ventilation Standard 62-89 (this is the standard reference in the May 2000 update of the Ontario Building Code) available for purchase from www.ashrae.org.